South African Poultry Importers Call to Scrap Tariffs as Prices Surge
- Dropping tariffs could ease pressure on food costs, group says
- Tariffs form key part of state’s plan to aid local producers
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South Africa should scrap all trade-related tariffs on chicken, introduce a three-year moratorium on new duties and remove value-added tax on the protein to ease pressure on food costs, according to a group that represents importers and exporters of poultry, beef and pork.
The removal of tariffs alone could translate into a 33% decrease in prices of bone-in chicken pieces and a drop of as much as 20% on chicken offal, Paul Matthew, chief executive officer of the South African Association of Meat Importers and Exporters, said in an online briefing on Monday.